Buckle with pivoted tongue



April 8, 1952 5;, DAVID 2,591,787

BUCKLE WITH PIVOTED TONGUE Filed Juhe 21, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l FIGJ (A FIG.2

FIG.3 [B

g 17 /Z 7 IIIH 5 i INVENTOR. Heinz Ernst David ATTORNEYS April 8, 1952 H. E. DAVID 2,591,787

BUCKLE WITH PIVOTED TONGUE Filed June 21, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG." 46 FIG.I2

5o 58 6O 59 54 52 L /I T T I I3 FIGJZa Flsila 54 57 v Hand INVENTOR: Heinz Ernst David ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE WITH 'PIVOTED TONGUE Heinz Ernst David, Parkchester, N. Y. Application June 21, 1950, Serial No. 169,448

My invention relates to a buckle witffa pivoted tongue, and more particularly, to a belt buckle having an elongated frame with a crossbar, to which one end of the beltcan be permanently secured, and a tongue pivoted to the other end of the frame on an axis parallel to said crossbar to be rotatable from a closed position extending inwardly over the buckle to an open position extending outwardlybeyond the buckle for insertion in any selected hole in the adjustable end of the belt.

One object of my .invention is to provide a buckle with a pivoted tongue which is automatically locked in closed position against unintentional opening.

Another object of my invention is to provide a buckle of the type set forth in which the tongue is positively locked inclosed position and a separate unlocking manipulation is required before it can be swung from closed to open position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buckle with a tongue which can be adjusted to any desired more or less open position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a buckle of the type set forth in which the tongue can be moved from locked closed to open position by exerting on the tongue itself a force exceeding that of the locking mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a buckle in which the tongue after having been released from locked position will snap automatically to a predetermined open position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a belt buckle of simple and sturdy construction comprising a minimum of easily manufactured parts which are permanently and securely connected together by av simple assembling operation.

These and other objects of the invention, whiclrwill appear more fully as the specification proceeds, are accomplished according to the present invention by the arrangement and combination of elements set forth in the following detailed description, defined in the appended claims and illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings; in which:

Fig.1 is a top view of the frame part of a buckle according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top View of a blank for a tongue according to the present invention;

Fig. Bis a side view of the tongue blank turned over from the position indicated in Fig. 2, the manner in which it is bent for attachment to the frame being shown in dotted lines;

10 Claims. 01. 24-178) Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the completed buckle;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the buckle partly broken away; I

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1--'l of Fig. 6 and showing the hinge structure itself in elepartly broken away,

' vation;

Fig. 8 is a top view of a belt and buckle assembly showing how the buckle is attached to the fixed end and to the adjustable end of a belt, certain parts being broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation bination shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified tongue blank;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified frame;

Figs. 12 and are fragmentary top plan views of two different modifications of tongue blanks suitable for use with a frame of the type shown in Fig. 11; V

Fig. 13 is a top plan view, on a smaller scale of an assembled buckle with a frame as shown of the complete comin Fig. 11 and a tongue as shown in Fig.1 12 or Fig. 12a.

Fig. 13a. is a fragmentary section taken on line l3a l3a of Fig. 13 but on a larger scale.

Referring now to the drawings, and first" to Figs. 1 to 9, A designates generally a substantially U-shaped elongated belt buckle frame of resilient material having a crosbar 2i and two U-legs 22, 23 which, when not restrained, tend to spread somewhat apart at their free ends, as shown in Figs. 1.

, Integral with the free ends of the U-legs 22, 23, and projecting at right angles inwardly therefrom, are two rod elements 24, 25. These rod elements are somewhat flattened as compared to the U-legs 22, 23 and are further reduced in thickness at theirends 26, 21. The rod elements 24, 25 are provided with cutouts 28, 29 which form, near the U-legs, shoulders 30, 3| and, at the free ends 'of the rod elements 24, 25, radial projections 32, 33. The length of each of the rod elements 24, 25 is less than half of that of the crossbar 2| so that an appreciable gap remains between the radial projections 32, 33 when the U-legs 22, 23 are brought to parallel positions.

The tongue blank illustrated in Fig. 2, and designated generally by B, comprises an elonrectangular plate-shaped member 35. As shown in Fig. 2, the plate-shaped member 35 isprovided with a central cut-out 35 providing two straight edges 31, 38 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tongue and two transversely outwardly extending recesses 39, 40 connected with the straight edges 31, 33 by wall portions 4|, 42 extending at right angles to the straight edge portions.

As can be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, the tongue is assembled to the frame by pressing the frame legs together and hooking the radial projections 32, 33 into the recesses 39, 53. Then the plate 35 is rolled around the rods, 24, 25 between the shoulders 30, 3| to form a bushing and the elongated tongue member 34 is bent to extend longitudinally along a flat curve over the frame A.

The elongated tongue member 34 may be given a certain resiliency so that in closed position its tip will rest firmly on the surface of the belt.

As seen in Fig. 6, the lateral or peripheral edges of bushing 35 are normally held at a small distance inwardly from the shoulders 35, 3| and the U-legs 22, 23 are retained in substantially parallel positions when the radial projections 32, 33 rest in the recesses 39, 5'0.

In this arrangement, the tongue B is locked in closed position by the resiliency of the frame legs which urge the radial projections 32, 33 into the recesses 39, all of the tongue plate or bushing 35 surrounding the two rod elements 24, 25. Due to the disposition of the recess walls 4|, 42 lengthwise of the hinge axis, no force exerted on the tongue B or any part thereof in a rotary direction will cause a release of the lock. In use, the fixed end 4 3 of a belt is attached to the crossbar 2| of the buckle frame A. The U-legs 22, 23 of the frame A are then gripped at their free ends with two fingers and pressed together until one peripheral edge of the plate or bushing 35 rests against one of the shoulders 33, 3| and the two radial projections 32, 33' are moved in opposite directions along the hinge axis out of the recesses 39, 45. The tongue B can then be pivoted to open position and, as soon as the finger grip on the U-legs of the buckle is released, the radial projections 32, 33 will slide along the straight edges 31, 38 of the cut-out 36 in the tongue plate 35, thus permitting adjustment of the tongue to any desired open position. When the tongue has been fully opened so as to have its tip disposed outwardly of the frame A, it may be passed through any one of several holes 44 in the adjustable end 45 of the belt and then moved back to closed and locked position in which its tip rests firmly on the outer surface of the adjustable end 45 of the belt, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In the modified tongue illustrated 'in Fig. 10, the plate 55 has a cut-out 41 provided with a straight edge 58 running over the entire length of the cut-out and, opposite the edge 43, a shorter straight edge 49 terminating in an outwardly extending recess 55. In this case the recess 53 is connected with the adjacent straight edge portion 59 by a wall portion 5| obliquely inclined at an angle of about 65 relative to the straight edge 49. This makes it possible to release the lock without exerting pressure on the outer ends of the 'U-legs of the frame since pivoting of the tongue effected with sufficient power will cause the radial projection 32 to be cammed out of groove 50 along the inclined wall portion 5| on to the straight edge portion 59.

The force required for such camming movement depends, of course, upon the resiliency of the frame and on the inclination of the wall portion 5|. In general, I have found that an inclination of the wall portion 5| between 60 and 70 relative to a plane extending transversely of the hinge axis will provide a safe lock against accidental opening but will make it relatively easy to overcome the resistance to opening resulting from the resiliency of the frame if the tongue is gripped near its tip and moved to open position, thus utilizing the full length of the tongue as operating lever.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13a, the U-legs 52, 53 of the frame carry at their free ends transverse rod elements 54, 55 of sufiicient length to overlap each other for a considerable distance. The ends of the rod elements 54, 55 are bent inwardly to provide radial projections 58, 51. In this case, as shown in Fig. 12, the tongue 58 may be of uniform width throughout its length and have at its rear end, which is to be wrapped around the overlapping portions of the rods 55, 55 between the radial projections '56, 51, a straight edge on one side and a recess 53 on the other side. Adjacent to the recess the edge may be provided with an inclined cam surface 65 extending inwardly .at an angle of about 35 to the longitudinal axis of the tongue. The angle of the cam surface may vary from about 20 to about 45 relative to the longitudinal axis of the tongue.

The wall of the recess 59 leading to the cam surface 65 may be either parallel to the hinge axis, as shown in Fig. 12 at 6| or inclined at an angle of about 20 to the hinge axis as shown at 6|a in Fig. 12a. Thus, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the radial projection 51 is locked positively in the recess 59 when the tongue 58 is pivoted to closed position relative to the frame. When the two U-legs 52, 53 are pressed together the lateral projection 51 will be released from recess 59 and as soon as the tongue 58 is rotated toward open position, the projection 51 tends to slide along cam surface 65, thereby causing the tongue 58 to snap open.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 12a on the other hand, the tongue can be cammed from looking position out of the recess 59, along the inclined wall 6 l a, and will snap open as soon as the radial projection 51 has passed the high point of cam surface 60.

What I claim is:

l. A 'belt buckle having a U-shaped frame of resilient material, first hinge elements projecting inwardly from the U-legs of said frame at a distance from the base of the U, a tongue provided with a second hinge element cooperating with said first hinge elements and connecting the tongue to the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis substantially parallel to the base of the U, a first pair of guide means rigid with said first hinge elements, respectively, at points inwardly of the U-legs, a second pair of guide means integral with said second hinge element and arranged for cooperation with the guide means of said first pair throughout the rotation of said tongue relative to said frame. said guide means of said first and second pair being urged toward each other by the resilient frame in a direction substantially lengthwise of the hinge axis, each guide means of one of said pairs including a part which is eccentric with respect to the hinge axis, each guide means of the other pair having a surface portion along which the associated eccentric part slides when said tongue is rotated relative to said frame, and at least one of the guide means of said other pair having a second surface portion adjoining said first surface portion and extending therefrom in a directionaway from the cooperating eccentric part when the latter contacts the juncture between the-two surface portions and at an angle relative to said first surface portion to offer to the rotation of the tongue relative to the frame in one direction when said eccentric part is in p contact with said second surface portion a resistance exceeding that resulting from the friction between said eccentric part and said first surface portion when the eccentric part slides along said first surface portion.

2. A belt buckle, comprising a U-shaped frame of resilient material having a base and two legs tending to spread apart at their free ends, integral rod elements extending inwardly from the free ends of the U-legs at substantially right angles to the latter, radial projections on the inner ends of said rod elements, an elongated tongue having an integral tubular portion, the axis of which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, said tubular portion surrounding both said rod elements and being provided with two substantially peripheral edge portions, each of which is in contact with the surface of one of said radial projections facing the U-leg to which it is connected by the associated rod element and slides along the associated radial projection when the tongue is rotated relative to the frame, and in at least one of said peripheral edge portions an axially extending recess into which the associated projection is urged by the associated leg of the resilient frame, thus locking the tongue against rotation relative to the frame whenever the tongue is pivoted to a position in which said projection registers with said recess.

3; A belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, in which axially extending recesses are symmetrically provided in both said peripheral edge portions to receive both said radial projections when the tongue is pivoted to its locking position.

4. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, in which a wall of said recess adjoining said peripheral edge portion is disposed at an angle of about 20 to 30 relative to the hinge axis whereby the tongue is locked against rotation relative to the frame when the radial projection rests in said recess in function of the resilient force exerted by the associated U-leg upon said radial projection to hold it in the recess, and unlocking can be effected by rotating the tongue relative to the frame with a force sufficient to cam the radial projection out of the recess along the inclined wall of the recess against the resistance resulting from the resilient force exerted upon the radial projection by the associated U-leg.

5. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, in which said peripheral edge portions extend substantially in a plane at right angles to the hinge axis whereby the tongue can be adjusted to any desired angular position relative to the frame whenever said radial projections are in contact with the peripheral edge portions.

6'. A belt buckle, comprising a U-shaped frame of resilient material having a base and two legs tending to spread apart at their free ends, integral rod elements extending inwardly from the free ends of the U-legs at substantially right angles to the latter each for a distance less than half the length of the base of the frame, whereby a gap remains between the free ends of said rod elements when the U-legs are brought to positions parallel to each other radial projections on the inncrfends of said rod elements, an elongated tongue having an integral tubular portion, the axis 'of which extends-at right angles to the longitudinal 'axisof the tongue, said tubular portion surrounding both said rod elements and being cut out to accommodate the radial projections on the inner ends of said rod elements, said tubular portion holding the U-legs normally in substantially parallel position, a cut-out in said tubular portion of said tongue providing two substantially peripheral edge portions each of which is in contact with the surface of one of said radial projections facing the U-leg to which it is connected by the associated rod element and slides along the associated radial projection when the tongue is rotated relative to the frame and, in at least one of said peripheral edge portions, an axially outwardly extending recess into which the associated projection is urged by the associated leg of the resilient frame, thus locking the tongue against rotation relative to the frame whenever the tongue is pivoted to a position in which said projection registers with said recess.

7. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 6, in which the wall of said recess adjoining said peripheral edge portion of the cut-out is disposed substantially parallel to the hinge axis whereby the tongue is positively locked against rotation relative to the frame when the associated radial projection rests in said recess and unlocking is effected by exerting pressure on the free ends of the U-legs to displace them toward each other and to move the radial projection in axial direction out of its recess.

8. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 6, in which the wall of said recess adjoining said peripheral edge portion of the cut-out is disposed at an angle of about 20 to 30 relative to the hinge axis whereby the tongue is locked against rotation relative to the frame when the radial projection rests in said recess in function of the resilient force exerted by the associated U-leg upon said radial projection to hold it in the recess, and unlocking can be effected by rotating the tongue relative to the frame with a force sufiicient to cam the radial projection out of the recess along the inclined wall of the recess against the resistance resulting from the resilient force exerted upon the radial projection bythe associated U-leg.

9. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 6, in which said peripheral edge portions extend substantially in a plane at right angles to the hinge axis whereby the tongue can be adjusted to any desired angular position relative to the frame Whenever said radial projections are in contact with the peripheral edge portions.

10. A belt buckle, comprising a U -shaped frame of resilient material having a base and two legs which tend to spread apart at their free ends, rod elements extending inwardly from the free ends of the U-legs at substantially right angles to the latter, each for a distance more than half the length of the base. of the U whereby the two rod elements overlap each other partially when the U-legs are brought to parallel positions, radial projections on the inner ends of said rod elements, an elongated tongue having an integral tubular portion the axis of which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, said tubular portion surrounding both said rod elements between the radial projections and having a cutout in at least one edge thereof, said cut-out 7 including an axially inwardly extending recess into which the adjacent'radial" projection is urged by the associated resilient U-leg, thus locking the tongue against rotation relative to the frame whenever the tongue is pivoted to a position in which said projection'registers with'said recess.

HEINZ ERNST DAVID.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number The following references are of record in the 10 Number file of this patent:

Name Date Mitchell June 26, 1888 Mann July 30, 1889 Mann July 4, 1905 Kirsten Jan. 2, 1951 Griswold Jan. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1909 

